Engine Rattling noise

My 1995 Ford Escort 1.9 L has developed a kind of rattling noise that sounds like its coming from the front of the motor. If I take the oil filler cap off while the car is running, there is no change in the noise so I don't believe it is coming fron the top of the engine. Is it possible that the Timing belt tensioner is going? The noise is kind of intermittant when idling but gets a bit worse when reving up the motor.
Does anyone have any ideas or had this problem.

Thanks in advance

My 97 has been making that rattlling noise for the last 20,000 miles. I took it to the dealer (should have known better) and they told me the engine mounts needed to be replaced according to a technical service bulletin. It was going to be 3.5 hours labor with $250 for parts. I said, "see ya around". I can live with it for that kind of money.
You might check all the accessories on your serpentine belt by taking it off. If the noise goes away you should investigate the idler pulley. The bearing may be going out on it. Mine has been making that noise, too. I just turn up the radio. Probably not a good idea to stick my head in the sand, but Escorts are noisy little cars.

Thanks for the response.
I will take the cerpentine belt off and see if it disapears. I had the timing belt replaced last March and they tried to tell me the timing belt tensoner was seizing up then and should be replaced at an added cost of $125 but would have to wait for a day while they got the part. I told them then forget it as I was 200 miles from home and had to be home the next day. From what I read it doesn't sound hard to check.

Thanks for the response.
I will take the cerpentine belt off and see if it disapears. I had the timing belt replaced last March and they tried to tell me the timing belt tensoner was seizing up then and should be replaced at an added cost of $125 but would have to wait for a day while they got the part. I told them then forget it as I was 200 miles from home and had to be home the next day. From what I read it doesn't sound hard to check.

could be the camshaft? i knew a guy who changed his camshaft, springs and valves and it took care of the problem. my best advice is not to engnor it. it could lead into other prob.s

Josh it's not the camshaft, if it was the noise would get louder with the oil cap off. And Ron it is no doubt an idler pully bearing or the water pump. You should check it out soon, and that shop that told you $125 for the tentioner while they already had the belt off, well don't ever go back they are crooks. It should not have cost you $125 for the belt AND the tentioner. The 1.9 is about the easyist engine there is to put a timing belt on, total labor time is less than 1 hour and the belt is $15. changing the tentioner adds 90 seconds to the job.

I had the timing belt replaced last March and they tried to tell me the timing belt tensoner was seizing up then and should be replaced at an added cost of $125 but would have to wait for a day while they got the part.

Whoa! ha ha what a bunch of bastards. The timing belt tensoner is part of the water pump, the entire water pump is like 40 bucks at the parts store, and every parts store has them.

The noise could be a loose heat sheild on the exshaust manifold, it's common.